WTO panel faults Russia over duties on German, Italian vans

GENEVA – A World Trade Organization panel is calling on Russia to come into line with its obligations at the trade body after imposing anti-dumping duties on some vans from Germany and Italy.

In a mixed ruling, the panel ruled generally in favor of a complaint filed by the European Union against Russia on measures that apply to all members of the Eurasian Economic Union — a grouping of five former Soviet states. Germany and Italy are EU member states.

The EU claimed victory and said the Geneva-based trade body had declared illegal the anti-dumping duties initiated four years ago by Russia, which range from 23 percent to 30 percent on light commercial vehicles between 2.8 and 3.5 tons in weight.